Seven people have been sentenced for a range of offences in the Bexley borough.

Five teenagers, who cannot be names for legal reasons, and two adults were all arrested and charged on March 24 following a large-scale police operation.

They were sentenced at Bexley Magistrates’ Court.

Their arrests were part of a two-year operation to dismantle organised criminal networks suspected of committing hundreds of offences including burglary, theft, fraud, motor vehicle crime, drug dealing, money laundering and violent crime.

A total of 70 people were arrested in connection with the operation - code-named Belmont - in March this year.

The teenagers sentenced committed a string of crimes in Erith, where they stole a computer, a sat nav, power tools and cycles, sold class B drugs and stole medicines from an ambulance.

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A 17-year-old from Erith was charged with two counts of theft, four counts of supplying class B drugs, one count of possession with intent to supply and one count of non-residential burglary.

He was handed a 10-month youth referral order.

A second 17-year-old from Erith was charged with two counts of non-residential burglary, one count of theft and one count of supplying a controlled drug of class B.

He was sentenced to a 12-month youth referral order, issued with a 12-week curfew and also electronically tagged.

A third 17-year-old from Erith was charged with one count of non-residential burglary, one count of theft, three counts of supplying a controlled drug of class B and one count of offer to supply a class C drug.

He was also sentenced to a 12-month youth referral order, issued with a 12-week curfew and electronically tagged.

A 15-year-old from Bexleyheath was charged with one count of non-residential burglary.

He was sentenced to a 10-month your referral order.

A 17-year-old from Bexleyheath was charged with one count of make/supply article for use in fraud.

He was handed a 12-month conditional discharge.

Mark Tworek, 18, of Birling Road, Erith, was charged with two counts of theft, after he stole power tools and jewellery.

He was given a 12-month community order with a 12-week curfew and electronically tagged.

Connor Smith, 19, of Brook Vale, Erith, was charged with one count of theft, one count of sell/supply prescription-only medicine and one count of possessing a controlled drug of class B.

He was given a 12-month community order, issued with an eight-week curfew and fined £325.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Holmes, from Bexley police, said: "We set up a dedicated team to identify a number of key individuals who were responsible for a large number of thefts, burglaries and fraud in the borough of Bexley.

"I am hoping that our investigation and the sentences they have been given will discourage them to from committing further crimes in the future."